RELEASED: March 12, 2009

DANVILLE, KY—Richard Morrill, chancellor of the University of Richmond and Centre College's 18th president (1982-88), has been named to succeed W. Robert Connor as president of the Teagle Foundation beginning in January 2010.

With assets of $180 million, the New York-based Teagle Foundation is dedicated to providing intellectual leadership and financial support to strengthen educational opportunity and undergraduate learning in the liberal arts and sciences.

"Rich Morrill is a remarkably good choice for this post," says Centre President John Roush. "His knowledge of and commitment to American education equips him well to provide leadership for the Teagle Foundation. His impact on the work of this organization will be immediate and profoundly good."

Morrill has served on the foundation's board since 1989, complementing his long career of leadership in higher education. He was most recently chancellor of the University of Richmond and was president there from 1988-98. Before coming to Centre, he held the same position at Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Morrill has been president of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, a board officer of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and a member of the national panel sponsored by AAC&U that issued the influential 2002 report, "Greater Expectations: A New Vision for Learning as a Nation Goes to College."

While at Centre, Morrill completed a successful capital campaign begun under his predecessor, Thomas A. Spragens. Within 10 months the original goal of $33 million was passed, and the campaign expanded. The Fund for The Future would eventually raise close to $40 million. Morrill undertook a major reform of the General Education program, and developed a strategic plan that set goals for growth and advancement for the next decade. Both of these initiatives received praise from higher education leaders for their thoughtfulness, methods and ambition.

During Morrill's presidency, Centre began to receive increasing national recognition as one of the "best buys" among leading smaller colleges; set national records for the percentage of alumni contributing to its annual find-raising campaigns; achieved its highest ever enrollment, even while implementing a policy of increasingly selective admissions; improved faculty salaries; constructed the F. W. Olin Science Hall with a grant from the prestigious Olin Foundation and the Bingham residence hall; and undertook major renovation projects of the Grace Doherty Library and Young Science Hall.

Morrill currently serves as the non-executive chairman of the Tredegar Corporation, as president of the Richmond Symphony Foundation, and as a board member of Albemarle Corp., Williamsburg Investment Trust and the Library of Virginia Foundation. He previously served as chairman of the board of the Richmond-based Christian Children's Fund, one of the country's largest charities serving at-risk children around the globe.

Walter C. Teagle III joins Morrill in the foundation's leadership as vice-chair.

Morrill has authored numerous publications on values, leadership and liberal education, including his recent book, "Strategic Leadership: Integrating Strategy and Leadership in Colleges and Universities." He earned his bachelor's degree in history magna cum laude from Brown University, the B.D. in religious thought from Yale University and a doctorate in religion and ethics from Duke University.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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